Republic of Ireland V Spain - 2002 World
Cup

Niall Quinn Wins a Penalty

By finishing second the
Group E behind Germany the Republic of Ireland met Spain in the last 16
of the 2002 World cup finals. For the fist time Ireland would play a World
Cup match in South Korea when the two teams met in the Suwon World Cup
Stadium on Sunday 16th June.

In a nail-biting encounter
yet again the Irish fell behind to an early goal and for the second time
in this World Cup they grabbed a last gasp equaliser.

Spain Score First Against Ireland

Spain began the match in
a dominant fashion and it was no great surprise when Morientes scored
the opening goal of the match. He was aided by some slack defending by
the Irish. Carles Puyol was allowed far too much room to receive the ball
from a throw-in and then pick his cross into the Irish box.

Beating Gary Breen to the
ball at the near post Fernando Morientes sent his header past a despairing
Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given. Eight minutes gone and the Irish were 1-0
down for the third time in the 2002 World Cup finals. Further dominance
by Spain should have increased the lead and even though Luis Enrique did
find the back of the Irish net the goal was ruled out for offside. The
Irish rode their luck and went in at half-time just a goal down.

Robbie Keane Equalises for Ireland Against
Spain

As in the Match against
Saudi Arabia Irish manger Mick
McCarthy brought on veteran forward Niall
Quinn for a fullback. In the 55th minute Gary Kelly was withdrawn,
Damien Duff was
switched to the wing, and Quinn and Robbie
Keane played up front. Almost instantly the new line-up gave Ireland
the advantage and in a reverse of the first half Spain were on the back
foot. It was no surprise when Duff won a penalty for the Irish having
been taken down by Juanfran. Unfortunately for Ireland Iker Casillas saved
from the normally dependable Ian Harte. To make matters worse Kevin Kilbane
sent the rebound wide when it was easier to score.

Further pressure from the
Irish led to goal chances for Duff and Robbie Keane. Just when it looked
like the Republic of Ireland's Far East adventure was at an end Hierro
tried to tear off Niall Quinn's shirt in the jostling in the box in the
build up to a last minute free kick for the Irish. Referee Anders Frisk
of Sweden spotted the infringement and awarded the penalty to Ireland.
Robbie Keane confidently stepped up to convert the spot kick for his third
goal of the 2002 World Cup finals and to send the match into extra time.

Penalty Shoot-Out Disappointment for
Ireland in 2002

In extra time the Irish
continued to have the best of the play and the scoring opportunities.
Keane and Gary Breen had decent chances to send Ireland into the quarter
finals. Despite all of the pressure, and Spain being reduced to ten men
through injury, the Irish just couldn't force the winner. For the second
time in World Cup finals Ireland faced into a penalty shoot-out. Unlike
in Genoa against Romania in Italia 1990 there was to be no happy ending
for the Irish in Suwon.

Ireland

Spain

Robbie Keane scored

1

1

Hierro scored

Matt Holland shot
off the bar and over

1

2

Baraja scored

David Connolly shot
saved by Casillas

1

2

Juanfran shot wide

Kevin Kilbane's shot
saved by Casillas

1

2

Valeron shot wide

Steve Finnan scored

2

3

Medieta scored

Despite hitting the goal
every time Ireland only scored two penalties out of five. Mendieta's penalty
was the decider and with that so ended the Republic of Ireland's participation
in the 2002 World Cup finals.

Ireland V Spain Post-Match Comments

"I'm very proud.
We didn't deserve an end like that - we deserved to win in normal time.
They are a wonderful bunch of people. I'm proud to have had a chance to
work with them. We've
had a wonderful World Cup."

"We would
have loved to go to the quarter-final and we deserved to. I've nothing
but admiration for the players - even the ones who didn't play. It's very
tough for the lads who took the penalties and I've got no criticism of
them at all."